This was news to Sif, but she had not time to consider the implications of this.You said there is much to tell, Baedi.
So there is. Although our range of vision has been restricted, this much we know; Sigtuna has been sacked.
Sif gasped.What?She tried to imagine the busy port city, burning and in ruins.How is that possible? Who has done this?
The Skraelings are on the march,replied Baedi.
“Impossible,” said Sif. The Skraelings were the boogeymen of the far North, savage and cruel. They fought against each other so fiercely that the vicious warriors never had the time or opportunity to come south.
It appeared that time was over. Sigtuna had already paid the price.
Goddess,said Sif.I cannot believe it.
I know,replied Baedi.There are some among the Sisters who say we are facing the end of days. That this is Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods.
Sif felt crushed by the weight of this news.Find your strength. Hard days are coming.She drew a deep breath, set her shoulders.So what do we do?she asked.
Baedi’s smile showed their approval of Sif’s resolution.We’re coming,they said.
What?
The Sisters of the Ironwood are on the move. It’s obvious that Visby will be the next target for the Skraelings. We must stop them, lest they spread rape and pillage throughout Gotland. If Visby falls, the Ironwood will be next. So Visby must not fall. Our Sisters are coming to help the city hold.
Never in Sif’s studies had she ever encountered any record of the Ironwood marching to war. For the sake of practicality, Sif put this fact aside and asked,When will you get here? And what do you want me to do?
We should arrive in two days’ time,replied Baedi.Go to the Jarl of Visby. You must persuade him of the truth of what we have seen, and that he needs to prepare defenses. Explain that we are coming, and that we must work together if we are to stop the Skraelings.
Why should he listen to me?asked Sif.He has no idea who I am.
You must make him listen,said Baedi firmly. We cannot afford delay. Hurry, Sister. Things are set in motion, and that demands swiftness. We will see you in two days.
The song’s connection ended, and Sif’s vision returned to see Hakon standing in front of her, his muscled arms folded. Sif gave a squawk of surprise and leaned back, sliding off the fallen tree with an ungraceful thump.
“I told you not to do that!” Sif shouted, startled and angry.
“And I know that I told you not to leave my side!” retorted Hakon, lifting her up. It was clear that he was furious. “If I could sneak up on you like that, so could anyone! How could you leave yourself vulnerable to any miscreant passing by? I’ll not have you putting yourself in danger!”
Sif could see that Hakon was genuinely upset. She put up a placatory hand. “Hakon, I understand. But it was necessary to contact my Sisters. And I have news!”
He glared at her. “Is your news anything that will affect the next half hour?” he demanded.
“No, but—”
Hakon took a seat on the fallen tree. “Then over my knee you go.” He gestured to his lap.
“You can’t be serious!” she exploded.
“I explained to you very clearly that I always follow through on my promises, Sif, and that your choices will have consequences. When your discipline is over, I will listen carefully to what you have to say and we will talk about what to do next. But we will not just skip past the fact that you put yourself at risk, in direct disobedience to my commands. So over my knee you go, now.”
Was she in the wrong? Was she so angry because she was trying to escape this demand for accountability? Hakonhadpromised to listen to everything she had to say once they were past this moment.
With a sigh, Sif faced her situation head-on. She put herself across Hakon’s lap, adjusting herself sothat her bottom was high in the air. Hakon silently rucked up Sif’s dress, tucking it onto her belt.
“Let’s get these smallclothes out of the way,” said Hakon firmly. “From here on, I forbid you to wear them. I will have access to you whenever I wish.”
Sif looked at the ground, which lay inches from her face, and gripped Hakon’s strong calves. She knew she should be furious. She should be shouting at Hakon until she was blue in the face, but instead she was here, over Hakon’s lap. Somehow, strangely, she felt a sense of peace. This was exactly where she was supposed to be. Events in the world seemed terrifying and everything on the brink of collapse, but here in the world that existed between her and Hakon, there was order. There were rules. In the space she and Hakon had created, her chosen man was going to keep her safe.
Hakon laid a broad hand over Sif’s bare bottom.
